Annelise harbored a dislike for Maxine. Like Princess Elke, whom she served, Maxine was not easily swayed by money. Coming from a noble family, she didn't have a desperate need for wealth.
What aggravated Annelise even more was Maxine's tendency to play the role of a moral arbiter among the maids, always championing trivial notions of justice when the real world revolved around superficial matters such as appearance, status, and wealth. Annelise couldn't understand why a mere maid would try to impose misplaced ideals in this environment.
Afterward, Annelise and her friends took it upon themselves to torment Thea in various ways. They resorted to using tricks similar to those employed by Princess Eleanor, such as locking her in the storage room or stealing her meals.
However, despite their efforts, Thea remained resilient and refused to be driven away. Frustrated, they decided to confront her directly one afternoon when she was alone, without Lady Runa by her side. However, someone eventually came to her aid from the library, forcing them to retreat.
With Thea now spending most of her time with Lady Runa, Annelise found it increasingly difficult to find opportunities to target her. The days became monotonous, filled with mundane duties.
During one of these uneventful days, Hanne informed Annelise of Princess Eleanor's fury toward Lady Runa.
Annelise herself had witnessed Lady Runa's audacity in the dining room, standing up to Queen Emma herself. It irked Annelise that someone who had been branded a traitor to the kingdom could return to the palace and become the fiancee of the crown prince.
For the time being, Princess Eleanor had no chance to retaliate against Lady Runa, as Prince Henrie kept a close watch over her. Similarly, Annelise was unable to do anything to Thea, as she had requested to be placed in the same room as Maxine.
To relieve her stress, Princess Eleanor resorted to locking up Princess Elisa in the cellar.
Surprisingly, Princess Elisa had grown accustomed to this treatment and did not shed a tear. She maintained a poker face, much to Princess Eleanor's frustration. Princess Eleanor kicked the bars in disappointment, unable to elicit the reaction she desired from her sister.
"Why are you trying to act tough, sister?" Princess Eleanor hissed, irritated by Princess Elisa's unyielding demeanor.
Despite Princess Eleanor's attempts to taunt her, Princess Elisa remained silent, understanding that responding would only further anger her sister. In response, Princess Eleanor decided to keep her sister confined in the cellar for the entire day. The only concern arose during dinner time.
Typically, Princess Eleanor would allow Princess Elisa to join for dinner to avoid raising suspicion. However, due to her particularly bad mood that day, Princess Elisa was denied even that small respite.
"Your Highness, what about dinner?" Annelise asked cautiously.
"I'll inform them that she's unwell. Keep a close watch on her until I return!" Princess Eleanor commanded, leaving the cellar to join the royal family for dinner.
After the meal, Princess Eleanor returned to the cellar to find Princess Elisa still maintaining her silence. Hanne discreetly whispered to Annelise about Lady Runa's persistent inquiries regarding Elisa's whereabouts during the dining room discussion.
"Why is she meddling in other people's affairs?" Annelise remarked.
"You should have seen her expression! She's so audacious. I bet she's become arrogant with His Highness by her side," Hanne jeered.
Stepping forward cautiously to avoid provoking Princess Eleanor, Annelise inquired, "Your Highness, what about Princess Elisa's dinner?"
Princess Eleanor tapped her folding fan against her chin, deep in thought. "I detest the thought of that little demon enjoying meals. However, I must feed her to keep her alive, at the very least, shouldn't I?"
Annelise then proposed an idea that instantly captivated Princess Eleanor. "Your Highness, what if I offer her my meager meals? I shall even forgo the delectable jams and butter. The bread that the servants receive daily is hard and tasteless, Your Highness. I believe it would suit her palate."
A wicked, wide grin appeared on Princess Eleanor's face. She closed her folding fan and used it to lift Annelise's chin. "I adore that idea, and I adore you."
And so, a new arrangement was established. Annelise shared half of her bread with Princess Elisa, while Princess Elisa's sumptuous meals made their way into Annelise's stomach. Throughout the day, Annelise often sought respite in Princess Elisa's chamber, luxuriating on her comfortable bed.
The youngest princess' confinement in the cellar was prolonged, fueled by Princess Eleanor's unending rage. Lady Runa's interference only intensified Princess Elisa's suffering.
Annelise found it amusing when Lady Runa inquired about Princess Elisa. She had to stifle her laughter. Look at her now! That beautiful lady had no idea that her concern only exacerbated Princess Elisa's situation.
Before dinner, Annelise was on her way to the kitchen to fetch her own meal and bring it to Princess Elisa. However, she noticed Lady Runa and Prince Henrie standing in front of Princess Elisa's chamber.
Fearing that they might enter and see through the facade, Annelise approached them and advised against it. Nevertheless, Lady Runa insisted on seeing Princess Elisa. Annelise was taken aback by this and blurted out the first thing that came to mind—that Princess Elisa was a light sleeper. That should discourage them, shouldn't it?
Once they had left for the dining room, Annelise made her way to the cellar carrying Princess Elisa's dinner—a half loaf of bread without any jam or butter. To her surprise, she found Princess Elisa in tears, and her skirt was damp. Had she...?
"Your Highness, have you wet yourself?" Annelise placed the bread in front of the bars, struggling to suppress her laughter. The princess reached out her arm through the gaps, grabbed the bread, and devoured it hungrily, resembling a famished beast.
"There, there, why are you eating like a barbarian, Princess?" Annelise delighted in taunting Princess Elisa. She was a pampered noblewoman, even before she became a princess, belonging to a prominent duchy.
Witnessing someone like her fall from grace boosted Annelise's confidence, as it meant that if someone could descend so low, she herself could rise just as high.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly until Princess Elisa emerged from the bath with freshly washed hair. Startled, she jumped up from the sofa, causing her fork to clatter to the floor. She covered her mouth in shock. "Your Highness..."
Princess Elisa fixed Annelise with the coldest gaze she had ever witnessed and remarked, "Annelise, isn't that supposed to be my dinner?"
***
Annelise sank to her knees, pleading for forgiveness. Princess Elisa's stern demeanor posed a lesser threat to Annelise than the fear of Princess Eleanor discovering the loss of her prized captive. She knew the consequences would be severe if Princess Eleanor found out.
Dealing with Princess Elisa had been relatively straightforward. With a few tears shed, Elisa had released her. However, the challenge now lay not with the youngest princess, but with the eldest.
Standing before Princess Eleanor, Annelise felt her legs grow numb.
Eleanor's chamber exuded an air of grandeur, adorned with numerous small objects scattered throughout. Unusually, boxes of dresses still cluttered the room, a departure from the norm as noblewomen typically discarded the boxes once they received their ordered dresses.
However, Annelise had more pressing concerns. Her life hung in the balance, and if she failed to come up with a convincing explanation, Princess Eleanor might condemn her to a dire fate.
"Have I not made myself clear? Do not release her until I return. Have my orders suddenly become insignificant to you? Do you presume to be above my command?" Eleanor lounged on the sofa, one leg crossed over the other, fanning herself languidly.
"No, Your Highness, never," Annelise replied, her voice strained and quivering.
"How else could she have escaped if it wasn't your doing? Are you betraying me?" Princess Eleanor's voice grew more menacing as she rose from her seat, positioning herself so close to Annelise that their breaths mingled in the air. Annelise could feel the warmth of Eleanor's breath on her face.